Now that I have the awful internet connection problem fixed, although not quite 100% yet, this is my first Tombstone Tuesday for quite a while!!

This is the tombstone of Michael Read, the great grandson of my 6 x great grandfather Cozens Read.

original photograph taken by me at Lower Winchendon, Buckinghamshire – copyright 2011

Transcript of Monumental Inscription

In

Memory of

Michael, Son of

Richard and Sarah Read

who died October 20th 1844

Aged 26 years

_______________

Oh friend, for ever lov’d, for ever dear,

How many tears have bathed thy honoured bier,

What sighs reechoed to thy parting breath,

Whilst thou wast struggling in the fangs of death

_______________

Afflictions semblence bends not o’er thy tomb,

Afflictions self deplores thy youthful doom,

To all save one, is consolation known,

Whilst solitary friendship sighs alone

Layt Aylesbury

I’m a little intrigued by the verse, the last part of the verse especially. “To all save one …” does that mean God or someone Michael was unfriendly with? And what does “whilst solitary friendship sighs alone” mean?

Other than knowing that Michael died in London (it mentions this in the burial register) although the gravestone does say he was late of Aylesbury (Buckinghamshire) I do not have much more information about him. I am thinking that maybe I really need to get his death certificate, at least that will give me an idea of why he died so young.

My Graveyard Rabbit Blog

My Project 365 Blog

YOUR ANCESTORS

If you could see your ancestors
All standing in a row
Would you be proud of them
Or don't you really know?
Some strange discoveries are made
In climbing family trees
And some of them, you know
Do not particularly please!

If you could see your ancestors
All standing in a row
There might be some of them, perhaps
You wouldn't care to know
But here's another question, which
Requires a different view ...
If you could meet your ancestors
Would they be proud of you?(Author unknown)